Senior Library Manager (UAE Nationals)

United Arab Emirates

A leading higher education institution in the UAE is seeking an experienced and visionary Senior Library Manager to provide strategic leadership and oversight of its academic library services.

This is an exciting opportunity for a senior library professional to lead the development of innovative, user-focused library services that support teaching, learning, research excellence, scholarly communication, and digital transformation across the institution.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the strategic planning, development, and continuous enhancement of the University Library in alignment with institutional goals and academic priorities.
• Oversee all library operations, including circulation, reference services, acquisitions, cataloguing, archives, technical services, and digital resources.
• Manage library technologies, integrated library systems (ILS), discovery platforms, institutional repositories, databases, and electronic resources.
• Oversee the institution’s Research Information Management System (RIMS), including publications management, research profiles, analytics, and reporting.
• Support faculty and researchers with scholarly publishing, citation management, research visibility, academic integrity, and access to information resources.
• Develop and deliver information literacy initiatives, workshops, and user training programmes.
• Lead budgeting, resource planning, subscription management, vendor negotiations, and cost optimisation initiatives.
• Manage, mentor, and develop library staff while fostering a collaborative and service-oriented culture.
• Support accreditation, quality assurance, compliance, and institutional effectiveness initiatives.
• Build partnerships with academic institutions, publishers, professional associations, and external stakeholders.
• Drive innovation in library services, technology adoption, digital transformation, and future library development projects.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in Library and Information Science, Library Science, Information Management, or a related discipline from an accredited institution.
• Minimum 8–10 years of progressively responsible experience within academic libraries.
• At least 5 years of experience in a managerial or leadership role.
• Strong experience in higher education environments and academic library operations.
• Demonstrated expertise in library technologies, digital resource management, collection development, budgeting, and staff leadership.
• Experience supporting accreditation and quality assurance activities within higher education.
• Experience with Research Information Management Systems (RIMS), such as PURE or similar platforms, is highly desirable.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Fluency in English is essential; Arabic language skills are highly advantageous.

Knowledge and Skills

• Strong understanding of academic library standards, systems, and best practices.
• Expertise in integrated library systems, electronic resource management, discovery services, and institutional repositories.
• Proven leadership, strategic planning, project management, and organisational skills.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.
• Ability to build effective relationships with faculty, researchers, students, administrators, and external partners.
• Passion for innovation, continuous improvement, and service excellence.

Why Apply?

This role offers the opportunity to play a key leadership role in shaping the future of academic library services within a dynamic and forward-thinking higher education institution. The successful candidate will contribute directly to research excellence, student success, digital transformation, and institutional growth.

UAE Nationals are encouraged to apply.